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Slow or none: Wyoming lawmakers’ response to the housing crisis
Wyoming’s housing crisis came on fast, but solutions to it from political leaders are either incremental or nonexistent. In some towns, local officials have updated zoning regulations to allow for more construction. Federal rent assistant programs are backlogged, and the Legislature has done essentially nothing.
Wyoming’s unaffordable housing drives young families and businesses away
In the second part of our housing series, Better Wyoming looks at the secondary problems caused by our housing crisis: intensified brain drain, lack of critical services, harm to the economy, and an overall impact on our communities’ well-being.
What causes Wyoming’s housing crisis?
In the first part of a new series, Better Wyoming looks at the causes of our state’s housing crisis—including wealthy out-of-staters paying cash and driving up prices, short-term rentals depleting housing stocks, restrictive zoning, high construction materials costs, and more.
Make your 2024 Primary voting plan
Better Wyoming wants YOU to vote in both 2024 elections, all the way “down the ballot” in local races. Making a vote plan helps ensure that voting isn’t a task you forget until it’s too late.
Raise your hand if you’ll vote to protect public education
Your state legislators have a significant impact on public education. Voting for trustees and legislators that value public education is important…not just for schools, but for your community’s freedom.
Why wait for mailers? Better Wyoming’s campaign to meet candidates where they’re at—BEFORE the election
Better Wyoming volunteers have been meeting with candidates before the election, and educating them on the healthcare needs of Wyomingites before they ever get into office.
Who the *&%# do I vote for?!!
Knowing who to vote for in the upcoming elections can be hard. Thankfully there are a few helpful voter guides that can help you make the right choice when casting your ballot.
Stop doom-scrolling Zillow and VOTE
We’ve all noticed housing becoming less and less affordable. And it’s not just house prices: rent is going up, too. But what can be done?
The best remedy for Wyoming’s healthcare problems? VOTING.
Our healthcare system is sick. It needs some strong medicine, and it needs it now. Fortunately, we have just about the strongest prescription out there: VOTING.
What are Friend-Banks?
Better Wyoming volunteers have been hosting ‘friend-banks’ across the state. These gatherings aim to mobilize voters through small social events, where participants encourage their friends and family to commit to voting in the upcoming elections.
SESSION RECAP: A school “voucher” program is unconstitutional in Wyoming. The Legislature created one anyway.
The Wyoming Constitution is stricter than other states’ when it comes to education funding and prohibits giving public funds to private or religious schools or individuals. The Legislature ignored these provisions in creating the new program, while Gov. Gordon slightly reined it in with a line-item veto.
Session recap: Harrison Ford and other needy Wyoming seniors receive property tax relief
Wyoming legislators wanted to give property tax relief to seniors on fixed incomes, but gray-haired lawmakers couldn’t help giving a bit of relief to themselves—despite the Baby Boomer generation being the richest in history.
Fortunately, other successful property tax proposals this session were more thought-out.
SESSION RECAP: Vetoed abortion bill provides a preview for fights to come
With multiple bans already in place but tied up in the courts, the Wyoming Legislature’s attempt to criminalize abortion this year was at once an attempt at a back up plan in the likely event that the state Supreme Court rules in favor of abortion access, and at the same time and admission that the procedure is, in fact, healthcare.
Session preview: Wyo. lawmakers want to send taxpayer money to schools with no accountability
Public schools are overseen by boards elected by their communities. But more and more Wyoming legislators want to divert public education funding to “education savings accounts” that fund private, religious, and home school operations with no oversight or accountability—a model that has failed in other Western states.
Session preview: Facing a lawsuit, Wyo. legislators look to increase teacher pay
Lawmakers are looking to reverse years of K-12 budget cuts in hopes of convincing the Wyoming Supreme Court to look kindly upon them in June, when the court will hear arguments in a lawsuit brought by the state teachers union and several school districts. A committee has proposed a $68 million funding increase aimed at providing teachers raises in hopes that the court will rule that they have met their constitutional obligation to properly fund schools.